WHO: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
WHAT: A study of just five states’ Medicaid programs by the Government Accountability Office identified 65,000 cases in which Medicaid beneficiaries visited six or more physicians in search of the same addictive drug, including 400 in which they saw more than 21 doctors. It also found 1,200 that were “written” by dead doctors and 1,800 that were written for deceased patients.
WHY IT’S AN OUTRAGE: Although fraud is perhaps an inevitable result of free health care, the GAO study found that federal officials had missed millions of dollars in fraud.
WHERE TO VENT: CMS inspector general, 202-619-1343.
